Method of and apparatus for cutting sod which rolls in a semi-flaccid sheet into sod roll

Abstract

A sod cutting device having a pair of sod cutting blades offset such that their interior ends are aligned in the direction of cutting. Two strips of sod may thus be cut simultaneously with minimal waste. The two cutting blades are connected to individual cutter frames which are pivotably connected to respective lateral ends of a pivot frame. The pivot frame is in turn pivotably mounted at its center to a main frame of the device. This allows each cutter frame to follow the contours of the land and thus improves cutting depth consistency. The cut sod is conveyed up a first conveyor to a second conveyor which is mounted behind the first conveyor. A netting is introduced between the two conveyors under the sod such that the sod, together with the netting thereunder, travels up the second conveyor. The sod and netting are then rolled about a mandrel with the netting supporting the delicate sod. When a sod roll of sufficient size has been formed, the second conveyor is pivoted downwardly about its forward end. This causes the sod roll to roll off the conveyor. A ramp system may be provided at the rear of the conveyor to avoid dropping forces on the sod roll.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for forming sod, comprising: a main frame;   means allowing movement of said main frame with respect to the ground in a cutting direction;   a pivot frame pivotably connected to said main frame for pivoting about a main axis substantially parallel to said direction, said pivot frame including right and left pivot bars laterally spaced from said main axis in opposite lateral directions parallel to the ground;   right means for cutting a strip of sod pivotably connected to said right pivot bar for pivoting about a right lateral axis substantially parallel said direction, said right means including means for contacting the ground; and   left means for cutting a strip of sod pivotably connected to said left pivot bar for pivoting about a left lateral axis substantially parallel said direction, said left means including means for contacting the ground.   
     
     
       2. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said means for contacting the ground of said right means and said means for contacting the ground of said left means each comprise at least one roller rotatably connected to the respective said means for cutting a strip of sod. 
     
     
       3. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said means for cutting sod each includes a cutting blade extending laterally of said direction and having interior and exterior ends, said interior ends being in proximity to each other and substantially aligned in said direction with one of said interior ends being spaced forwardly of the other of said interior ends along said direction. 
     
     
       4. An apparatus as in claim 3, wherein said means for cutting sod each comprise a sub frame pivotably mounted to said respective pivot bars, and wherein said cutting blades are connected to said respective sub frames. 
     
     
       5. An apparatus as in claim 4, wherein said means for contacting the ground of said right means and said means for contacting the ground of said left means each comprise at least one roller rotatably connected to the respective said means for cutting a strip of sod. 
     
     
       6. An apparatus as in claim 5, further comprising a plurality of blade supports, one of said blade supports being fixed to each of said ends of said cutting blades at a first end of said blade support and a second end of said blade support being pivotably connected to said sub frame associated with said respective cutting blade, and further comprising means for oscillating said blade supports with respect to said associated sub frame. 
     
     
       7. An apparatus as in claim 6, wherein said oscillating means comprises a motor mounted on each of said sub frames, each said motor being operatively connected to said blade supports of said respective sub frame. 
     
     
       8. An apparatus for forming sod, comprising: a main frame;   means allowing movement of said main frame with respect to the ground in a cutting direction;   means, connected to said main frame, for cutting at least one strip of sod from the ground, the strip of sod having top and bottom sides;   means, connected to said main frame, for placing at least one at least semi-flaccid sheet in contact with the bottom side of the at least one strip of sod;   .Iadd.a conveyor connected to the main frame behind the cutting means and adapted to receive the sheet and the sod strip thereon for conveyance substantially parallel to said direction;   means for guiding the sod strip from the cutting means onto the conveyor and therefore onto, and into contact with, the sheet, said means for guiding the sod strip being in front of said means for placing the sheet; .Iaddend.and   means, connected to said main frame, for rolling the sod, with the sheet in contact therewith, into a spiral configuration with the sheet exterior.   
     
     
       9. An apparatus as in claim 8, wherein said placing means comprises: .[.a conveyor connected to said main frame behind said cutting means, in said direction, and adapted to receive the sheet and the sod strip thereon and convey same substantially parallel to said direction;.].   means connected to said main frame for supporting a supply of the sheet; .Iadd.and .Iaddend.   means for guiding the sheet from said supporting means onto said conveyor.[.; and   means for guiding the sod strip from said cutting means onto said conveyor and therefore onto, and into contact with, the sheet.]..   
     
     
       10. An apparatus as in claim .[.9.]. .Iadd.27.Iaddend., wherein said means for cutting at least one strip of sod includes at least one cutting blade extending laterally of said direction and said conveyor comprises a second conveyor, and wherein said means for guiding the sod strip comprises: a first conveyor connected to said main frame between said second conveyor and said cutting blade, said first conveyor adapted to convey the sod in said direction and having a rearward end in operative proximity to a forward end of said second conveyor; and   at least one tine connected to each said at least one cutting blade and extending rearwardly into proximity with a forward end of said first conveyor, said tine adapted to guide the sod from said blade to said first conveyor.   
     
     
       11. An apparatus as in claim 10, wherein said means for guiding the sheet comprises a guide rod connected to said main frame and extending laterally between said forward end of said second conveyor and said rearward end of said first conveyor. 
     
     
       12. An apparatus as in claim .[.9.]. .Iadd.27.Iaddend., wherein said conveyor is inclined downwardly in said direction, and wherein said means for rolling the sod comprises: a roll support mounted at each lateral side of said conveyor; and   mandrel means disposed above said conveyor and adapted to receive the netting and sod thereabout, said mandrel means having lateral ends, each said lateral end adapted for abutting relationship with a respective one of said roll supports such that said roll supports prevent movement of said mandrel means along said incline of said conveyor due to gravity.   
     
     
       13. An apparatus as in claim 12, wherein each said roll support comprises an upwardly extending angle member having a front wall substantially perpendicular to said direction and a side wall substantially parallel to said direction, said side wall being connected to said front wall at a laterally exterior end of said front wall. 
     
     
       14. An apparatus as in claim 12, wherein each said roll support is fixed to said conveyor and said angle member extends upwardly a distance, and wherein each said roll support further comprises a rear wall substantially perpendicular to said direction and fixed to a rear end of said side wall such that said roll member has a cross section of a laterally inwardly opening U, and wherein said rear wall extends upwardly less than said distance. 
     
     
       15. An apparatus as in claim 13, wherein said conveyor has a front end pivotably connected to said main frame for pivoting about a laterally extending axis substantially perpendicular to said direction, and further comprising means for pivoting said conveyor between a first position wherein said conveyor is inclined downwardly in said direction and a second position wherein said conveyor is inclined upwardly in said direction. 
     
     
       16. A method of rolling sod, comprising the steps of: providing:   a main frame;   means allowing movement of said main frame with respect to the ground in a cutting direction;   means, connected to said main frame, for cutting at least one strip of sod from the ground, the strip of sod having top and bottom sides;   means, connected to said main frame, for placing at least one at least semi-flaccid sheet in contact with the bottom side of the at least one strip of sod;   .Iadd.a conveyor connected to said main frame behind said cutting means and adapted to receive the sheet and the sod strip thereon and convey same substantially parallel to said direction;   means for guiding the sod strip from the cutting means onto the conveyor and therefore onto, said into contact with, the sheet, said means for guiding the sod strip being in front of said means for placing the sheet.Iaddend.; and   means, connected to said main frame, for rolling the sod, with the sheet in contact therewith, into a spiral configuration with the sheet exterior;   moving said main frame in said direction to cut at least one strip of sod from the ground;   placing the at least one at least semi-flaccid sheet in contact with the bottom side of the at least one strip of sod .Iadd.by guiding the sheet onto said conveyor and guiding the sod strip from the cutting means onto the conveyor and therefore onto, and into contact with, the sheet;   conveying the strip of sod along the conveyor with the sheet positioned between the conveyor and the bottom side of the strip of sod.Iaddend.; and   rolling the sod, with the sheet in contact therewith, into a spiral configuration with the sheet exterior.   
     
     
       17. A method as in claim 16, wherein said step of providing placing means comprises .Iadd.providing.Iaddend.: .[.a conveyor connected to said main frame behind said cutting means, in said direction, and adapted to receive the sheet and the sod strip thereon and convey same substantially parallel to said direction;.].   means connected to said main frame for supporting a supply of the sheet; .Iadd.and .Iaddend.   means for guiding the sheet from said supporting means onto said conveyor; and   .[.means for guiding the sod strip from said cutting means onto said conveyor and therefore onto, and into contact with, the sheet; and.]. wherein said placing step comprises:     guiding the sheet from said supporting means onto said conveyor.[.; and   guiding the sod strip from said cutting means onto said conveyor and therefore onto, and into contact with, the sheet.]..   
     
     
       18. A method as in claim 17, wherein said step of providing means for rolling the sod comprises .Iadd.providing: a roll support mounted at each lateral side of said conveyor; and   mandrel means disposed above said conveyor and adapted to receive the netting and sod thereabout, said mandrel means having lateral ends, each said lateral end adapted for abutting relationship with a respective one of said roll supports such that said roll supports prevent movement of said mandrel means along said incline of said conveyor due to gravity; and wherein said rolling step comprises:     rolling the sod about said mandrel means.   
     
     
       19. A method as in claim 18, wherein; said step of providing a conveyor further comprises.[.: said.]. .Iadd.providing a .Iaddend.conveyor having a front end pivotably connected to said main frame for pivoting about a laterally extending axis substantially perpendicular to said direction; and   said providing step further comprises.[.:.]. providing means for pivoting said conveyor between a first position wherein said conveyor is inclined downwardly in said direction and a second position wherein said conveyor is inclined upwardly in said direction; and comprising the further step of:     pivoting said first conveyor, subsequent to said rolling step, from said first position to said second position, whereby the rolled sod may roll off of said conveyor to the ground.   
     
     
       20. A method of rolling sod, comprising the steps of: cutting at least one strip of sod from the group, the strip of sod having top and bottom sides;   .Iadd.conveying said strip of sod along a support surface; .Iaddend.   placing at least one at least semi-flaccid sheet .Iadd.between the support surface and the strip of sod so that the sheet is .Iaddend.in contact with the bottom of the at least one strip of sod .Iadd.as the strip of sod is conveyed along the support surface.Iaddend.; and   rolling the sod, with the sheet in contact therewith, into a spiral configuration with the sheet exterior. .Iadd.   
     
     
       21.  A method as in claim 20, wherein said step of rolling the sod comprising the step of rolling the sod about a mandrel disposed above the support surface and adapted to receive the strip of sod and sheet thereabout. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 
     
     
       22.  A method as in claim 21, including the step of rolling the rolled sod and sheet off of the support surface by pivoting the support surface from a first position inclined downwardly in a forward direction to a second position inclined upwardly in the forward direction. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 
     
     
       23.  An apparatus for forming sod, comprising: a main frame;   means allowing movement of said main frame with respect to the ground in a cutting direction;   means, connected to said main frame, for cutting at least one strip of sod from the ground, the strip of sod having top and bottom sides;   means, connected to the main frame, for supporting a supply of an at least semi-flaccid sheet;   a support surface connected to said main frame behind said cutting means and adapted to receive the sheet and the strip of sod thereon, with the sheet positioned between the strip of sod and the support surface, and convey same substantially parallel to said direction; and   means, connected to said main frame, for rolling the strip of sod, with the sheet in contact therewith, into a spiral configuration with the sheet positioned exteriorly. .Iaddend. .Iadd.   
     
     
       24.  An apparatus as in claim 23, including a member positioned behind the cutting means for guiding the strip of sod from the cutting means onto said support surface and therefore onto, and in contact with, the sheet. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 
     
     
       25.  An apparatus as in claim 24, wherein said support surface comprises a second conveyor and means for guiding the sod strip, said guiding means comprising: a first conveyor connected to said main frame between said second conveyor and said cutting means, said first conveyor adapted to convey the sod in said direction and having a rearward end in operative proximity to a forward end of said second conveyor; and   at least one tine connected to each said cutting means and extending rearwardly into proximity with a forward end of said first conveyor, said tine adapted to guide the sod from said cutting means to said first conveyor. .Iaddend. .Iadd.   
     
     
       26.  An apparatus as in claim 25, including a guide rod connected to said main frame and extending laterally between said forward end of said second conveyor and said rearward end of said first conveyor for guiding the sheet from said supporting means onto said second conveyor. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 
     
     
       27.  An apparatus for forming sod, comprising: a main frame;   means allowing movement of said main frame with respect to the ground in a cutting direction;   means, connected to said main frame, for cutting at least one strip of sod from the ground, the strip of sod having top and bottom sides;   means, connected to said main frame, for placing at least one at least semi-flaccid sheet in contact with a bottom side of the at least one strip of sod, said placing means comprising: a conveyor connected to said main frame behind said cutting means, and adapted to receive the sheet and the sod strip thereon and convey same substantially parallel to said direction;   means connected to said main frame for supporting a supply of the sheet;   means for guiding the sheet from said supporting means onto said conveyor; and   means for guiding the sod strip from said cutting means onto said conveyor and therefore onto, and into contact with, the sheet; and     means, connected to said main frame, for rolling the sod, with the sheet in contact therewith, into a spiral configuration with the sheet exterior. .Iaddend.